Factors Influencing School Management Team Practices on Life Sciences teaching affecting learner performance in rural secondary schools of the Vhembe East district
Date
2022
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
The achievement of Life Sciences has not been satisfactory in some of the rural secondary schools of the Vhembe East District in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. This prompted me to explore factors influencing the School Management Team (SMT) practices on Life Sciences teaching in the area. This study was underpinned by the interpretivist paradigm. A qualitative research methodology was employed in this study to interact with the social reality of the participants. Data was collected from fifteen SMT members through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants for this study were selected purposively from three rural secondary schools in three Circuits of the Vhembe East District. The participants were selected on the basis that they were being information-rich about the knowledge and experience in promoting teaching and learning activity. The study revealed various factors that deprive SMTs from promoting the teaching and learning activity in Life Sciences. These include an unequal distribution of scholar transport in rural secondary schools, inadequate infrastructure due to vandalism, the introduction of online and WhatsApp learning to disadvantaged learners, the closing of schools due to Covid-19,and school violence and drug abuse. Recommendations from this study will be shared with all stakeholders in the Department of Education during Life Sciences conferences and workshops.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education in the Department of Educational Planning and Administration at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2022.
Keywords
School management team practices, Life Sciences teaching, thematic analysis